What is national philosophy of education education essay

” Education in Malaysia is an on-going effort towards further developing the potential of individuals in a holistic and integrated manner, so as to produce individuals who are intellectually, spiritually, emotionally and physically, socially balanced and harmonic, based on a firm belief in and devotion to God. Such an effort is designed to produce Malaysian citizens who are knowledgeable and competent, who passes high moral standards and who are responsible and capable of achieving a high level of personal well-being as well as being able to contribute to the harmony and betterment of the family, the society and the nation at large.”

What is National Philosophy of Education

National Philosophy of Education (NPE) is founded in 1988 based on policy documents and ideologies such as Cabinet Report in 1979, rational and critical thinking, National Principle, Malaysian Society and cultures. NPE outlines the principles, ideas, terms, education practices, policies and goals of education. Besides that it is also serve as guidance, course of direction, or rational opinion on mater related to education. The content formed in NPE contains various factors such as social, international, individual, economical, political and religious factors. The social factors can be seen through the sentence which present in NPE “… to produce Malaysian citizen that are capable of achieving a high level of personal well being to contribute to the betterment of the nation, family and society.” since Malaysia is a country which has various races such as Malay, Chinese, Indian, Kadazandusun and others; thus, in order to have a peace harmony and stable society or nation, education play an important role of moulding tolerance, cooperation and mutual respect among each citizens. Apart from social factors, individual factor is mentioned in the sentence from NPE which stated that ” Holistic Development by integrating all potential of individual in such a manner that produce balanced and harmonious citizens” which means that the nation hope by education, positive attitude can be developed within the individual, and produce an individual who enjoy spiritual peacefulness and ready to face challenges. NPE uphold the aspiration of a nation. Thus as a teacher, he/she should study the aims of NPE carefully and interpret them as to produce a better quality generations. Furthermore NPE is very important because it enlighten the guidance and direction to nation, act as a basic consideration of the objectives of national education and act as a reference to understand education systems. Besides that, it is also guidance for teacher’s duties and curriculum planning, avoids misunderstanding, ambiguity and dispute, and also implements educational programmes. NPE have affected the school culture or tradition and the nation education reforms very much. Only with NPE, teachers and pupils will be able to follow closely and realize the aims and aspiration of education. It affects the education reforms by introducing the education systems, Integrated Primary School Curriculum, smart school and teaching Mathematics and Science in English.

What is Curriculum?

In generally, curriculum is defined as the course content offered by an educational institution or courses taught in school or institution of higher learning. According to educationalist John Dewey in his book of Democracy and Education, he defined curriculum as an effort to reconstruct society. However, Kerr another educationalist defined that curriculum as learning process which is planned and implied as group or individual either inside a classroom or outside classroom (Choong, 2008). In short, curriculum should be specific, well planned, arranged, contain activity, common, apparent and implied in daily life. Malaysia curriculum has been change from time to time due to globalisation. In order to have pupils who is able to adapt and attach to the current world, Malaysia curriculum context shifted from Old Primary School Curriculum (KPLI) to New Primary School Curriculum (KBSR) in the year of 1982. the name of New Primary School Curriculum (KBSR) is then changed to Primary School Integrated Curriculum (KBSR). KBSR is being reviewed in the year of 2003. In the year of 2011, the government start a new primary school curriculum named as Standard Primary School Curriculum (KSSR). The Old Primary School Curriculum is the curriculum before 1982 where Malaysia still yet to get independent. In that time, the curriculum used is different in every races. For example, Chinese schools have their curriculum imported from China; Tamil schools have their Curriculum Imported from India, English Schools used the curriculum from England; Malay school focus more on Islamic educations. For the New Primary School Curriculum and Primary School Integrated Curriculum, there are some minor changes between both the curriculums. The improvement for Primary School Integrated Curriculum from New Primary School Curriculum in terms of school culture is school environment, patriotism and integration. However, the improvement in terms of curriculum is introduction of 3 new subjects which are living skills, science and local studies, some changes to the existing subject such as languages, moral education, Islamic education and physical education and also introduction of Sempoa for Level 2 students in order to improve their thinking skills and arithmetic. Primary School Integrated Curriculum is linear form which is based on 3 field. The three fields that is being focus on is communication, human and his environment and individual self development. It focuses on three areas which are reading, writing and arithmetic. The focuses for elements in KBSR are analysis and creative thinking skills. There are four KNSR principles which are integrated approach, holistic development of the individual, life-long learning and one education for all (Choong, 2008). Primary School Standard Curriculum (KSSR) improved in the curriculum designed based on 6 areas which are communication, Spiritual, Attitude and Values, Humanitarian, Physical and Aesthetical Development and also Science and Technology compared to which have only 3 areas which is communication, Man and his environment and also Self development of the individual. Besides that it is a modular designed. It focuses on four areas that are reading, writing, arithmetic and reasoning compared to three areas. The focuses for elements in KSSR are creativity and innovation, entrepreneurial, information and technology and also communication (Official Portal Ministry of Education Malaysia, n. d.). In conclusion, Malaysian curriculum is improved from time to time as to fulfil the needs of the society and the nation and also to produce a newer generation who can face the challenge of the world.

Role of school, Students and Teacher

School plays a very important role in realization of National Philosophy of education. It is one and the only one stage that can provide an environment which enable the development of a student’s cognitive, affective and physical with other potentials (JERIS). Besides providing a suitable environment, school is also act as the medium for teaching and learning process to be happened by providing place to study and educators, hold different event and programme to enrich the student knowledge and mould their talents. Furthermore, school also act as the basic society for the student to get knowing how can they be survive in such a challenging world (Teaching in Malaysia, 2011). Teacher plays the role of teaching the students inductive and deductive reasoning, scientific method, and the power of observation and practice. Besides that, teacher should plan the teaching and learning activities which could encourage students to participate in learning and prepare the content of a subject centred lesson and them delivers them to the students with direct instruction. As teacher, he/she should also ask questions, tell the students the current social issues and create problem solving challenges. She/he should volunteer himself/herself as an organizer and information resource for his/her students. Furthermore, teacher should have encouraged students to think about their own life and to recognize and fulfil their personal freedom. She/he should also behave himself/herself well as he/she is the role model for his/her students (Teo, 2009). Not only school and teacher have their role on actualizing the objective of National Philosophy of Education, students have their role to play too. As Students, they should show that they are active in the learning process by participating every of the activity planned by their teacher. Besides, as students, they should be able to receive knowledge and show minimum abilities and develop independence, self-discipline, always be ready to face challenges and to solve problems. Furthermore, they should show their interest to inquire and apply critical thinking skills (Teo, 2009).

School Activities

According to Miss Chan Chew Mei and Mr. Kow Guan Ming, the principal and the senior assistance of students affairs from SMK San Min, Teluk Intan, Perak, the five school activities that had been done by them which fulfil the objective of National Philosophy of Education is Chinese New Year Celebration, Sports and Recreations Day, Awards Day, National Day Celebration and Gotong Royong Day.

Chinese New Year Celebration

Since SMK San Min is a Chinese-based School, Chinese New Year Celebration becomes an annual celebration in the school. Chinese New Year Celebration program in school aimed to practice the Chinese culture and to prevent the Chinese tradition from being extinguish. Every year before Chinese New Year holiday started, SMK San Min will have a Chinese New Year Celebration. During the celebration, there will be New Year Song Singing Competitions, Calligraphy Writing Competition, Lion Dance Performance and 24 Drums performance too. Besides preventing the Chinese culture to be extinguished, it is also helps to develop and enrich the students’ talent. This Chinese New Year Celebration contains the following elements in National Philosophy of Education as it helps in development of individual potentials, producing responsible Malaysian citizens and Malaysian citizens who are able to contribute to the harmony and betterment of family, society and nation at large. Individual potentials such as calligraphy writing, signing and musical instruments skills can be developed and enriched through the activities done during Chinese New Year Celebrations. Besides that the responsible value can be implant in the Chinese younger generations as they are the one who is responsible to keep their tradition and culture last longer. For the other races, they will have better understand towards Chinese culture. With better understanding of each races culture, a harmony and better nation can be found.

Sports and Recreations Day

Sports day and recreations day are a must for every school recently due to the ‘1 Student 1 Sport’ policy. In that policy, each and every of the student must take part in at least 1 sport in order to fulfil the requirement of National Philosophy of education which focus on the development of students who are balanced from intellectual, physical, emotional, and spiritual. (Bahagian Sukan Kementerian Pelajaran Malaysia, 2011)The aim of Sport and Recreation day which is hold in school is to develop intellectual, physical, emotional, and spiritual balanced student. The sport and recreation programme is started by marching by all the uniform unit and sports home unit. After marching, it will begin with the warming up session then only the sport event will begin. This programme brings along many benefits to the students as they can enjoy themselves in the event besides exercising their body and maintaining their body health. Furthermore this programme also realizing the objective of National Philosophy of Education as it helps in producing competent, harmonic and balanced Malaysian citizens, implanting the belief and obedience to God, and also developing holistic and integrated development of an individual. Through the sport and recreation activity, enable the development of students’ knowledge, good personality, good characteristics and good health. Besides that, appreciation towards the creation of the God can be developed through recreation activity. Lastly, sport and recreations is one of the activity which help in developing holistic and integration value in one person as it teacher the students knowledge, let them know the importance of caring to the nature, the important of maintaining a good physical and mental health and also be thankful to the God.

Awards Day

Awards day is an annual activity that holds in SMK San Min. This activity have the main propose of be thankful for the student achievement in co-curriculum, academic and their leadership development. Besides being thankful to students, in this event, teachers who get the award of ‘The Best Teacher’ from the Ministry of Education also will get their award here too. This event bring a lot of benefit to the student as it besides motivate the student to take part in extra curriculum activity, it also help to develop students potentials, talents and abilities. This activity also upholding the national philosophy of education as it contains the elements such as developing the students’ spiritual elements, developing individuals’ potentials and moulding responsible and well-being Malaysian citizens. Through the Awards Day, the gift given by God is appreciated as with this gift, the student is able to won the competition. Besides those students who do their responsible well and behave in good personality is also being rewarded. As in Skinner’s behaviourist theory of learning, when ones get rewarded for his/her good deals, he/she most properly will keep this habit up (McLeod, 2007). Thus, it helps to implant good values in students.

Gotong Royong Day

Gotong royong is aimed to teach the student to care of their environment and keeps their environment clean. This activity is done twice a year so that the student can have a clean and comfortable environment to study. It brings along a few benefits such as teaching the student the correct way of cleaning the environment, teaching to be caring toward their surrounding and implant good manner within the students. National philosophy elements such as emotional, spiritual, high moral values citizens and harmony and betterment of family, society and nation is uphold through this event. These elements is included in this activity because gotong royong is able to cheer up the students’ caring towards their environment, unite the student, implant love to their country and develop good character and moral values in an individual.

National Day

Every August is Malaysia Independence day, and every of the school will have a small function as to appreciate the work done in order to have a peaceful and harmony life here and now. This is a very meaningful activity as through this activity, students will be able to show their respect and thankful for their peaceful life and to understand their country more. Element from National Philosophy of Education such as spiritual, emotional, responsibility and harmony and betterment of family, society and nation can be developed during the activity. It is because during the activity, the student should have realize the important of unity, the present of God to keep our country safe and harmony, and they will realize their responsibility in order to maintain the peacefulness.

Classroom Activities

According to Ms. Lew Mei Ling, A very experienced History teacher from SMK San Min, Teluk Intan, Perak, the five classroom activities that had been used by her which fulfil the objective of National Philosophy of Education is Group Discussion, Q&A session, Travel and Learning, Modelling and Question Preparations.

Group Discussion

Group discussion is one of the pedagogies which help teachers to plan the classroom activity. In a group discussion, students are needed to work in a group and discuses about a given topic. The group discussion done by the History teacher that I had interview is usually having a group discussion and make a mind map on the topic taught. After that, the student is needed to present in front of the class. She finds that it is very useful as the colourful mind mapping allows the students to remember the main points easily. Besides that, students are working together and sharing their opinions and ideas. Through this activity, elements such as emotional, knowledgeable Malaysian citizens and intellectual is applied. Since it is a group work, the students need to control their emotions in order to complete their work. Furthermore, they are sharing and discussing the knowledge and ideas which goes to producing knowledgeable and intellectual element in National Philosophy of Education.

Q&A session

Q&A session is mainly to test the understanding of a topic. In this activity, Puan Lew will ask the students to read the chapter at home first. In the following class, she will divide the students in to groups and ask the students to choose a leader. The leader will be the one who will pick the questions and the other group members should answer the questions. In this activity, intellectual elements, competent and high moral standards are applied. Since it is working as group, the students need to discuses about the correct answer and they are competing with the other classmate to get a higher score so that they will not be punished. Furthermore moral values such as tolerance, responsibility and teamwork are being developed.

Travel and Learning

Modelling

Question Preparations

Conclusion